I have a 54" kubota ztr and am going to get an exmark walkbehind. I live in a suburbian town, but not where all the homes are packed row by row, they vary from about 1/4 acre to 3-4 acres. I am not sure about gates on most homes, all I can say is that if a home does have a gate I would expect it to be a double gate. But, I'm sure there are many homes with only 1 gate. SO what should I get?

a clear difference lawn

01-12-2010, 08:26 AM

In my experience, if gates are involved - a 48" deck always has posed a problem. That is just where I live though. Maybe you can try to measure a couple of the gates.

hornett22

01-12-2010, 01:25 PM

if you are worried about gates,get the 36.you know your area better than anyone else.

STIHL GUY

01-12-2010, 04:05 PM

i ahve a 48'' but if you already have a 54'' i would suggest going with the 36''

NEWGUYRI

01-12-2010, 04:08 PM

can you get through gates with it? Also what kind of enviornment, because from your pic it looks similar to mine.

RickR1818

01-12-2010, 04:12 PM

If you already have a 54" i would also go with a 36".

WHIPPLE5.7

01-12-2010, 04:14 PM

I would go with a 36 for sure. If I had gotten a 48 I would be using a 21 most of the time because of all the gates. No doubt the 48 would be handy on larger stuff but a 36 WB is the most versitile machine out there. You can everything from teeny tiny yards to larger places. Sometimes it may seem alittle small but atleast you can use it everywhere else too.

bobcat48

01-12-2010, 08:10 PM

yep 36 but i have a 33' and it does just fine.

mowzilla

01-12-2010, 08:37 PM

don't get stuck on the exmark.. demo all of them. i have 1000's hrs with exmark and i love it as much as i hate it.. i also have 20+yrs running toro's and its my favorite bar none.. look into a 40" toro has them.. 36's (which i have) are just soo versitile.

Pat'sPerfectLawnService

01-12-2010, 08:56 PM

since you have the 54" to get houses with out gates, i would go with the 36" to get the small gated houses

GravelyNut

01-12-2010, 09:03 PM

As a standard size gate is 36" opening size, you might have a problem with a 36" cut mower. If the gates are double or 48", then no problem with the 36".

NEWGUYRI

01-12-2010, 09:59 PM

standard gates around here are 38"

WHIPPLE5.7

01-12-2010, 10:54 PM

standard gates around here are 38"

90% of the yards here are chain link fenced and the measures 39 and 3/4, so any 36 breezes right thru. I've always wanted a reason to buy a Navigator or Walker but with all those gates just under 40" the 36 is the only machine I can make earn its keep. I had used Walker once before but could not justify having it because of all the gates.

JayD

01-12-2010, 11:16 PM

I am looking at the new 2010 book on them and for some reason, the specifications list the 36" at 77.7" in length with the other sizes are this....52" 20KAE is 75.9", 48" is 73.7"

Can anyone tell me why the smaller one 36" would be longer in length?
That is very odd don't you think.....

Grass Shark

01-13-2010, 03:30 AM

The wider is shorter because the deck tapers back on a 48" bring the wheels back about 3"-5". On a 36" the deck is almost straight across the front if not completely straight.

1. If you are running two mowers at a time get the 48" and either buy a crappy 32" or turn down gated houses that your 48" will not fit thru, which sounds like you run into gate issues less than 5% of the time.

2. If you are solo and running one mower at a time buy a 32" because you already have the Z and the big second deck will not add speed. If you can use the 48" most likely you will be on the 52", so solo you are not adding anything.

I had a Toro 36" and 2 out of 10 gates it would not fit thru. So IMO buying a 36" to get thru gates is burning money. Toro, Bobcat, Exmark and more make a nice 32" and you will find it is about $500- $700 cheaper than the 36". How many hours do you have to mow to recoop the extra $500 -$700 with that 4" more of cut? Your not gaining much time with the 36 over the 32 at all.

mowerdude777

01-14-2010, 10:15 PM

If you plan to keep the 54 get a 36 or if you dony go with a 48 and exmark is the way to go with walkbehinds but I thought you had just gotten a new walker

Landscape Poet

01-14-2010, 11:23 PM

The wider is shorter because the deck tapers back on a 48" bring the wheels back about 3"-5". On a 36" the deck is almost straight across the front if not completely straight.

1. If you are running two mowers at a time get the 48" and either buy a crappy 32" or turn down gated houses that your 48" will not fit thru, which sounds like you run into gate issues less than 5% of the time.

.

This right here to me is the reason to go with the 32 or 36 and not 48 - you already have the 52 for larger areas but if you are trying to add business then wouldn't it be nice to not have to turn down a house, buy the equipment that will allow your company to become a more complete company.
Even if you only run into gates 5% of the time - having the ability to grow your business by 5% is a respectable growth rate in most industries.

Valk

01-15-2010, 12:39 PM

This right here to me is the reason to go with the 32 or 36 and not 48 - you already have the 52 for larger areas but if you are trying to add business then wouldn't it be nice to not have to turn down a house, buy the equipment that will allow your company to become a more complete company.
Even if you only run into gates 5% of the time - having the ability to grow your business by 5% is a respectable growth rate in most industries.

Good advice indeed.

FWIW, a 32 fits through more gates than a 36. The goal is to leave the 21 on the trailer...or better yet, at home to collect dust.

jbell36

01-15-2010, 01:00 PM

i would say definitely the 36...much more versatile, and if you happen to run into a gate that is smaller than a 36 then get a decent 21" to keep on the trailer just in case...and if you are looking for a nice hydrostat with a floating deck then you won't be able to find one in a 32 (i know you probably wouldn't need a floating deck in a 32 anways, i just like the reassurance), that's why we decided to go with a toro 36 hydro float, completely awesome mower...we do run into backyards that are smaller than 36 but it's only 5% of the gates or so, not too big of a deal...

JayD

01-15-2010, 01:38 PM

i would say definitely the 36...much more versatile, and if you happen to run into a gate that is smaller than a 36 then get a decent 21" to keep on the trailer just in case...and if you are looking for a nice hydrostat with a floating deck then you won't be able to find one in a 32 (i know you probably wouldn't need a floating deck in a 32 anways, i just like the reassurance), that's why we decided to go with a toro 36 hydro float, completely awesome mower...we do run into backyards that are smaller than 36 but it's only 5% of the gates or so, not too big of a deal...

Here is something else to keep in mind too....

If you get to a gate that your mower is just a little to big for, you can always (if you have a helper with you) tilt the mower a little on its side until you get into the gate....